Tanti auguri Anffas!

60 years of advocating for the rights of people with intellectual disabilities and their families in Italy: Our member Anffas celebrates its anniversary this year.

Anffas was founded in 1958 thanks to the commitment of a mother of a child with disabilities and ten other parents who wanted a different future for their children, a future with equal rights and opportunities. Anffas has worked (and is still working) to achieve this goal.

Since its foundation, Anffas has implemented many projects on topics such as easy-to-read and active citizenship. These projects saw people with intellectual disabilities and neurodevelopmental disorders directly involved. Some of them were carried out in collaboration with other European partners, such as the SafeSurfing project on data protection for people with intellectual disabilities.

The first Italian self-advocacy movement

Recently, thanks to the initiative “Io, Cittadino!” (“Me, a citizen!”) Anffas helped launch the first Italian self-advocacy movement, composed of people with intellectual disabilities and neurodevelopmental disorders. The movement’s main objective is to advocate for the rights of people with intellectual disabilities, and encourage them to become active citizens.

Moreover, Anffas is now working on the project “Capacity, law is equal for all”. The project aims to support people with intellectual disabilities to make decisions on their own, and also to produce a number of suggestions for changes to the existing Italian laws on legal capacity.

Anffas also was involved in the creation of a number of Italian laws that had a big impact on the lives of people with disabilities in Italy. For example, a law passed in the year 2000 states that people with disabilities can request for an “individual life project” to be created for them by municipalities in agreement with social services. This project must be based upon their wishes and needs, and should aim for full integration “within the family and social life”. Another law adopted in 2016 regulates protection measures for persons with high support needs and without family support (for example housing, care and social services, etc).

Open Day to celebrate 60th anniversary

To mark its anniversary, Anffas held an Open Day where staff members of its local branches (currently about 1,000) met with representatives of local communities. They raised awareness about the issues people with intellectual disabilities face, but also about their talents and strengths.

Throughout 2018, Anffas will continue organising a series of others initiatives at local and national level. At the end of November, a big final event will be held in Rome, with the participation of a number of renown national and international experts on disability rights.

Anffas was created 60 years ago. It was created by a mother of a child with disabilities and some other parents. They all wanted a better future for their children.

Anffas has done many projects in Italy. For example, on easy-to-read texts.

“Me, a citizen!” is the first Italian self-advocacy movement for people with intellectual disabilities. This movement was created by Anffas to support people with intellectual disabilities to be part of the community.

Anffas also works on another project. The project wants to support people with intellectual disabilities to make their own decisions. The project also wants to change some Italian laws on legal capacity.

Anffas has helped making laws better for people with disabilities in Italy.

For example, Anffas helped to make a law which says that people with disabilities can get support to plan their lives. The plan must be built on their wishes and needs. The aim is to make sure they are included in family and community life.

Anffas has also helped make a law to protect people who need a lot of support and do not have a family.

This year Anffas turns 60 years old. Anffas held an event to celebrate its birthday. At the event, Anffas’ staff met with people from different local communities. They talked about what it is like to live in the community with an intellectual disability. They talked about what can be hard. They also talked about what they are good at and what they can do.

In 2018 Anffas will organise many other events in Italy. There will be a final event in Rome in November 2018.